On review of a decision of the district court, rendered in its appellate capacity, we examine the record of the trial court independently of, but with due regard for, the district court's intermediate appellate decision. Hentges v. Hentges, 115 Idaho 192, 194, 765 P.2d 1094, 1096 (Ct. App. 1988). the decision to award attorney fees is discretionary and absent any abuse of that discretion, a trial court's grant or denial of attorney fees will not be disturbed on appeal. Antill v. Antill, 127 Idaho 954, 958, 908 P.2d 1261, 1265 (Ct. App. 1996). When a trial court's discretionary decision is reviewed on appeal, the appellate court conducts a multi-tiered inquiry to determine: (1) whether the lower court correctly perceived the issue as one of discretion; (2) whether the lower court acted within the boundaries of such discretion and consistently with any legal standards applicable to the specific choices before it; and (3) whether the court reached its decision by an exercise of reason. Hentges, 115 Idaho at 195, 765 P.2d at 1096.